RALEIGH, N.C. -- Junior Trent Szkutnik (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) struck out six in 6.1 innings, but three early runs by No. 6 North Carolina State was the difference in the Wolfpack's 3-0 win Friday afternoon (Feb. 28) to start the USA Baseball-Irish Classic.

N.C. State scored an unearned run in the first and plated two more in the second on consecutive two-out run-scoring singles. Szkutnik settled down, retiring 10 straight Wolfpack hitters in his 6.1-inning outing. Freshmen Keith Lehmann(Western Spring, Ill./Lyons Township) and Mac Lozer(Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) each got the Maize and Blue out of a jam in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Lehmann had two strikeouts with runners on second and third, while Lozer induced a lineout double play with two men in scoring position.

Michigan's best chance to score was in the sixth inning. Junior Jackson Glines(Coarsegold, Calif./Fresno City College) led off with a single. He went to second on a groundout. SophomoreJacob Cronenworth(St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair) was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. Junior Kyle Jusick(Portage, Mich./Portage Central) flew out to right to move Glines to third base, but a fly out ended the threat.

Jusick had two hits on the day for the Wolverines and has now hit in all eight contests for the Maize and Blue.

Michigan will move to the USA Baseball National Training Complex for a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon (March 1). U-M faces Notre Dame at noon and Appalachian State at 4 p.m.